Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

mittee have resolved, as soon as it is possible to make their necessary arrangements, to send another Deputation to complete the canvass there. But in the mean time, they most gratefully acknowledge the receipt of £1200, in aid of the erection of the College; for which they desire to express to all concerned, their deepest obligation, and liveliest gratitude.

ORDINATIONS, ETC.

HISTORICAL NOTICES OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT SUTTON IN ASHFIELD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, and of the Ordination of its present Pastor.

Iu the Church-book it is stated, that a congregation was collected at Sutton during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and that, in the year 1651, the pastor occasionally preached at Nottingham. In the year 1662, the church at Nottingham was deprived of its pastor in consequence of persecution; and being destitute of the means of grace, it united with the church at Sutton in Ashfield, then under the pastoral care of Mr. John James. Mr. James is described as remarkable for his ministerial talents, the holiness of his character, and the success with which his labours were crowned: after enduring frequent imprisonments, and other sufferings for the sake of Christ, he was in the Providence of God removed to London. He was succeeded by Mr. John Gibbs, who commenced his ministry in the year 1678, but died in the midst of his usefulness, about 1682. After his death, the church continued several years without a pastor, during which, the services of Captain Wright, one of its officers, were very acceptable; but so bitter was the persecution, that for some time, meetings could only be held during the night, or very early in the morning. In the year 1686, Mr. John Ryther was chosen to the pastoral office; soon after his coming, he thought that it would further the interests of the Gospel, if the church were divided into two parts, one to meet at Nottingham, the other at Sutton; hence, in 1687 or 1688, he became pastor of a distinct church at the former place. In 1691, the church at Sutton fitted up a house for worship, was re-organized, and chose the Rev. R. Dickinson to the pastoral office; he continued his labours till his death, which occurred about 1701; after which, the people were supplied by different ministers, among whom, were Messrs. Wood, Mault, and Wilson. Mr. John Allwood succeeded Mr. Dickinson, in the year 1705; during his ministry, the congregation increased, and a larger place of worship was procured; in 1720, this church, in conjunction with those of Nottingham, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Bolsover, &c., formed an Association for mutual improvement; the first meeting after the formation of the Association was held at Sutton, June 28, 1721. After the death of Mr. Allwood, Mr. Wilson was chosen to the pastoral office, 1743-4; soon after his settlement, the present chapel was erected; Mr. Greenwood, a member of the congregation, gave the ground, and the building was opened for worship in 1745, Mr. Wilson continued in office about thirty years, and died suddenly as he was walking out in the fields. Mr. Barrett became his successor in 1775, and re-organised the church; he resigned his office in 1782, in order to remove to Kidderminster. The next two ministers, Mr. Rhodes, of Hannington near Sheffield, and Mr. Jacob Brettel from Heckmondwike Academy, lapsed into Arianism, the former remained a very short time, the latter when compelled to resign, tried to establish a separate church of Arian sentiments; that church, however, soon came to nothing. About 1790, Mr. John Kirkpatrick, from Homerton Academy, was elected to the pastoral office; he laboured about eleven years, and then removed to Toulmire near Cambridge. His successor was the Rev. Thomas Roome. Mr. Roome commenced his pastorate in 1802; in September, 1839, he removed to Silcoates, where he now usefully discharges the important duties of chaplain and religious instructor, to the Protestant Dissenting Grammar School.

The Rev. Charles Wilson, from Rotherham College, has recently been elected pastor of the church, and the interesting and impressive services connected with his ordination, took place on the twenty-sixth of October, 1841. The Rev. Thomas Roome, the late pastor, commenced the morning service by giving out a hymn, after which the Rev. Robert Weaver, of Mansfield, prayed and read the Scriptures. An introductory discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Alliott, of Nottingham: Mr. Wilson next answered the usual questions, which were put by the Rev. Thomas Smith, Classical Tutor of Rotherham College, who afterwards offered up the ordination prayer, with imposition of hands. The Rev. W. H. Stowell, Theological Tutor at Rotherham, delivered the charge, and the solemn service was concluded with prayer by the Rev. H. L. Adams, of Newark. The minister and friends dined together in the spacious school-room, and several interesting and appropriate addresses were delivered. In the evening, the Rev. James Parsons, of York, preached to the church and congregation.

The services of the day will not soon be forgotten by the large and attentive congregations collected together: our young brother has commenced his ministry with a united people, and with favourable prospects of success. May this long established church be abundantly blessed from above, may its cords be lengthened, and its beloved pastor be long continued as a burning and shining light, and be made a great and permanent blessing to the people of his charge!

On Tuesday June 15th, 1841, Mr. John Fogg, formerly a Town Missionary in Hull, was publicly and solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry in the Independent Chapel, Cowick, near Snaith, Yorkshire.

The Rev. Wm. Fogg, of Redford (Baptist), the venerable father of the young minister, introduced the service by reading the Scriptures and prayer. The Rev J. E. Millson, of Pontefract, delivered a discourse on the nature of a Church of Christ. The Rev. J. Bruce, of Howden, proposed the usual questions, which were satisfactorily answered by Mr. F. The Rev. H. Earl, of Goole, offered the ordination prayer. The Rev. R. W. Hamilton, of Leeds, gave the charge, and the Rev. J. Cooke, of Gomersal, addressed the church and congregation The Rev. Messrs. Senior, of Selby, Boyd, of Whitgift, and Dunn, of Thorne; also took part in the service.

This is a station of the West Riding Home Missionary Society, and the earnest prayers of many are, that the God of Missions may greatly bless the labours of the young pastor, in sowing the good seed of the kingdom in this part of his vineyard!

The recognition of the Rev. J. Josiah Braine, late of Shelton, Staffordshire, as pastor of the Congregational Church at Melksham, Wilts, took place on Tuesday, 8th of February, 1842. The Rev. J. Russell, of Melksham (Baptist), commenced the service by reading the Scriptures and prayer. The Rev. G. I. Tubbs, of Warminster, delivered an eloquent discourse on "Revivals," founded on Amos vii. 2, last clause. The Rev. B. Rees, of Chippenham, asked the questions. Mr. T. Sidwell, a deacon, stated the circumstances which induced the church to give an unanimous invitation to their present pastor. Mr. Braine gave his reasons for accepting the invitation, and also a brief outline of the course he intended to pursue in the prosecution of his ministerial duties. The Rev. R. Harris, of Westbury, offered up the recognition prayer. The Rev. R. Elliott, of Devizes, delivered an affectionate address to the newly recognized pastor, from 2 Cor. iv. 1, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have

*The Editor feels it due to himself to state, that this notice of an ordination on the 15th of June, 1841, did not reach him till the 18th of February, 1842, and to state that he is most anxious to obtain the earliest intelligence of each service connected with the settlement, or extension of our churches.

received mercy, we faint not." The Rev. J. F. Stenner, of Holt, concluded the service with prayer.

In the evening, the Rev. W. Gear, of Bradford, preached an excellent sermon to the church and congregation, from Acts xiii. 36. The other devotional services were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Rodway, Slade, Garrett, Stenner, Harris, and Pinches.

The church was formed by the late venerable Mr. Honywill, over which he presided as pastor for nearly sixty years.

The Rev. E. Rice, of Hackney College, having accepted an invitation from the church and congregation assembling at Bethel Chapel, Sheerness Kent, entered upon his pastoral duties on the 6th February, 1842.

The Rev. Wm. Lewis, of Hackney College, having accepted the unanimous and most cordial invitation of the church and congregation, assembling at Frampton on Severn, Gloucestershire, to become co-pastor with the Rev. W. Richardson, entered upon the duties of his ministry, on the 20th February, 1842.

The Rev. M. Davies, late of Kerry, entered on the pastoral duties over the church and congregation, assembling in the Independent Chapel, Penywain, Monmouth. shire, on the last Sabbath of January, with pleasing prospects of usefulness, having received and accepted a cordial invitation from a meeting of the church, convened by public announcement.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Favours have been received from Drs. J. P. Smith-R. Alliott-Clunie-RedfordMatheson.

Rev. Messrs. O. T. Dobbin--Thomas Milner-A. Reid-J. S. Bright-J. H. Godwin-W. Owen-W. Froggett-J. J. Braine-J. K. Foster-G. Wardlaw-J. Bruce R. Chamberlain-R. Ashton-J. Jones-A. Wells-Abraham Jones--Mrs. Hopkins-W. Stroud, Esq. M.D.-Major Biddle-Messrs. J. L. Hardy-Joshua Wilson-G. Gill.-Philalethes H.-J. S.-G. Swaine.

If Major Biddle will turn to the Memoirs of Rhenius, pp. 475-479, he will find that the extracts from the journal of that much injured man, fully sustain the represen tations of Philo-Israel, the accuracy of which the Major has questioned.

We have in type a lengthened Review of Dr. Bennett's Congregational Lecture, which will appear in our next.

In consequence of the illness of the Editor, the Brief Notes on Passing Events are reluctantly deferred.

THE

CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1842.

INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF JOHN THORNTON, ESQ.
THE PHILANTHROPIST.

ILLUSTRATED BY ORIGINAL LETTERS.

"Perhaps there never lived a man more deserving of public regard, a pattern in every virtue that could promote the welfare, and improve the interests of mankind: the fondest husband, most benevolent father, devoutest Christian, and sincerest friend. His charities, which almost transcend belief, were rather felt than known, and reached to the remotest part of the habitable globe. He died, without having incurred a censure, during a life of seventy years, from the most licentious of mankind.”—Gentleman's Magazine, 1790, page 1056.

SUCH is the truly rare, but not exaggerated character, that was given, in a leading periodical, of JOHN THORNTON, the first English merchant of his age, at the time of his lamented death. More than fifty years have passed away since that event, and yet we are not aware that any attempt has been made to give the catholic church of Christ an account of the life of one of her most munificent and devoted members. True it is, that the venerable Thomas Scott, the commentator, published a discourse occasioned by his death, entitled, "The Love of Christ the Source of Genuine Philanthropy ;"* but it was addressed to his cotemporaries, rather than to the men of another age, explaining to those who knew him as a prodigy of benevolence, the scriptural principles which moved like secret springs the complicated machinery of his useful life, but not recording those biographical facts which are necessary to give reality to such a character, when more than half a century has passed away. A series of papers relating to the life and labours of this eminent Christian citizen having fallen into the hands

* Works of the Rev. Thomas Scott, vol. vi. 329-371.

N. S. VOL. VI.

2 F

of the writer of this article, he is anxious to place before the public a number of incidents, collected from various sources, which may justify the eulogium that has been quoted, and honour evangelical religion, as the most powerful and prevailing motive that can influence the human mind, to seek the glory of God and the welfare of man.

"Although attached to the church of England in its genuine doctrine, worship, and discipline," yet, Mr. Scott states, "he was equally a cordial friend to pious persons amongst the dissenters." The life of such a man, therefore, is the common property of the catholic church, and happy will it be, if in these times of alienation and bitterness amongst those who are bound to love one another, the example of this Christian philanthropist shall lessen that estrangement, and abate that asperity.

JOHN THORNTON was born about the year 1720, it is presumed of a wealthy family, for it is stated, that he began the world with £100,000. To qualify him for commercial pursuits, he left his native land for Russia before he was of age, and resided four years at Moscow and Riga. Although surrounded by scenes of vice and dissipation, he has recorded that Divine grace restrained him from the evils to which he was exposed.* He was a Russia merchant of London and Hull, but his residence was in the metropolis, having a counting-house in the city, and a handsome villa at Clapham, Surrey. He resided in that lovely suburban village as early as 1754, when the excellent Henry Venn accepted of its curacy. "He was then a young man of deep piety, and whose views of Divine truth soon became congenial with his own. Between them was formed a friendship of the strictest kind, which continued till Mr. Thornton's death,"+ of which several illustrations will be supplied in subsequent pages.

Mr. Thornton was not ashamed to be known as a follower of Christ, and was ready to visit his neighbours for their spiritual improvement. Amongst these was the venerable Sir John Barnard, who for forty years represented the city of London in parliament, and was so regarded by his fellow-citizens for his integrity and patriotism, that they erected his statue in the Royal Exchange. The source of this excellent magistrate's public virtue, was his true piety. "My eyes," said Mr. Venn, writing to Mr. Thornton's sister, "have scarce beheld his fellow. Such constant circumspection and such deep humility, such unfeigned Christian love, expressing itself in a total abstinence from evil speaking, is rarely to be found even amongst the faithful in Christ. * * * I rejoice that your dear brother visits him. It is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of mirth. There he may see what a miserable estate the admired senator, the renowned

*Christian Guardian, 1821, p. 20.

The Life and Letters of the late Rev. Henry Venn, M.A., p. 24.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »